Contact printing box



I 1940. P. F. JACKSON 2. 98251 CONTACT PRINTING BOX Filed April 6, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORJ April 1940- P. F. JACKSON 2.198.251

CONTACT PRINTING BOX Filed April 6, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented Apr. 23, 1940 UNITED STATESQPATENT OFFICE 2,198,251 CONTACT PRINTING Box Paul F. Jackson, Dayton, Ohio Application April 6, 1938, Serial No. 200,479

3 Claims.

This invention relates to photographic equipment and more particularly to a contact printing box.

An object of this invention is to produce a 5 contact printing box that is cheap, easily produced, convenient, light in weight, simple; but at the same time efficient and dependable.

Another object of this invention is to provide a contact printing box that is suitable for use with continuous length strips of films.

Another object of this invention is to provide signalling means for indicating the source of light, if any, that is illuminated within the printing box.

Another object of this invention is to provide a film masking and supporting mechanism that is easily adjusted to accommodate various sizes of films, that is easily constructed, cheap; but at the same time eflicient and dependable.

Another object of this invention is to provide supports for a continuous length of film.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a contact printing box with the lid-like pressure plate ajar.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view with parts broken away to show some of the structure in 35 detail.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, with the reel supporting device in inoperative position.

Fig. 6 is a detail fragmentary view of a por- 40 tion of the masking device.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view to show structural details.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4.

The embodiment shown is particularly adapted for use by amateurs and small developing establishments desiring a light, convenient printing box that may be moved from place to place, easily adjusted to accommodate various sizes of megatives and prints, easily controlled and easily produced. The printing box includes a suitable red light and a printing light underlying a translucent surface adapted to support a film in contact with the sensitized printing paper. 56

The printing box may be used in connection with continuous length films having the ends or rolled portions on either side of the printing surface mounted upon suitable supports.

The printing box includes a lower portion l housing the lights and a cover portion l2, which includes a film and printing paper supporting surface, masking devices, et cetera. The illumination device mounted in the lower portion l0 includes a socket l4 supporting a red light bulb E6 of the conventional incandescent lamp type energized through a pair of leads I8, terminating in a plug 28, that may be plugged into any suitable outlet socket. Whenever the plug is plugged into position, the red light I6 is illuminated. This red light is visible on the outside 15 of the box through a red glass or the like 22, held in position by a plurality of brackets 24 spot welded or otherwise secured to the side of the box In in proper relation to the window opening therein. 7

The box Ill includes another socket 26, having mounted therein a suitable incandescent light bulb 28, preferably of a larger candle power or wattage than the bulb l6, generating a clear light whenever the switch is in closed position, said 5 light being energized through a pair of leads 32 connected to the leads 18. The switch 30 may be any suitable toggle switch appearing on the market, shown conventionally in Fig. 1 and shown schematically in Fig. 2.

Due to the fact that the glass 22 is always illuminated when the plug 20 is connected to a suitable source of energy, whether the light 28 is illuminated or not, it is rather dificult for the operator to determine from a casual inspec- 35 tion of the window 22 whether or not the switch 38 is open or closed to illuminate the printing light 28. That being the case, a suitable signalling mechanism pilot light has been devised. The signalling mechanism has been located in the cover i2. It consists of a pair of tubular members 40, press fitted into suitable apertures in the cover l2, one to the right and one towards the left, as viewed in Fig. 1. The tubular members 40 are provided with reentrant flanges hold' ing the screen 42 in position.

The tubular member 40 shown to the left of Fig. 1 is provided with a green window or filter 44 that will obstruct the passage of all but the green rays. This has been designated as green in Fig. 1. Instead of green, any other colored glass or filter may be used, as for example, a yellow glass. The tubular member 40 or pilot seen towards the right of Fig. 1 is provided with a red window. Whenever the plug 20 is connected to a suitable source of current, the switch Bil being open, the red light i6 is illuminated and a red background is seen in the top of the pilot member 43, shown to the right of Fig. 1; but the green pilot to the left of Fig. 1 remains dark, as the green filter glass obstructs the passage of all the red rays. Whenever the switch is closed, so as to energize the light 28, the red pilot, seen to the right of Fig. 1, continues red. The green pilot 44, to the left of Fig. 1, permits green rays to pass therethrough and shows up green. This permits the operator to observe type of light within the box without opening the box. This is a precaution against opening the box when the light 28 is illuminated, so as to expose or ruin the sensitized paper that may be exposed on the exterior of the box.

The top of the box 12 is provided with an opening bounded by an ofiset flanged portion M3 that supports a ground window glass 59, or any other suitable transparent or translucent member constituting a support for the film and the sensitized paper during the printing operation. The film and the sensitized paper may be held in position by masking strips, which will now be described.

A U-shaped rod 52 bounds three sides of window glass 55], that is, the legs straddle the glass 55. The U-shaped member is held in position by extending through the eyes of four cotter pins 54, one near each corner of the glass 59. As may best be seen by referring to Fig. "I, the rod 52 is supported upon grommet-like washers 56 seated on top of the cover !2. The cotter pins 5% have their ends deflected below the surface of the cover 12, so as to rigidly hold the U-shaped rod 52 in position.

One leg of the U-shaped member 52 supports a masking strip 60. This masking strip Gil extending along one side of the glass 59 is provided with a pair of ears E2 projecting from a transverse rib 02, as best seen by referring to Fig. i. The ears 6'2 are folded at 54, so as to embrace the rod 52 seated in the bight on the side opposite the rib 63. This masking strip 50 is held in position and biased against the glass 50 by a pair the of coil springs 56, having one end resting on top of the cover and the other end arranged in hooked relation with respect to the ears 62.

Along the front of the contact printing box, a masking strip l0 overlies the edge of the glass 56 and may be spot welded at frequent intervals to the cover l2 at 72. This provides masking strips on two sides of the glass 50.

In order to hold the various sizes of films in position a pair of masking strips 14 is adjusta-bly mounted upon one leg opposite the masking strip 8i) and the connecting portion between the legs. These masking strips M are provided with earlike extensions '15 embracing the rod 52, so as to hold the masking strips in position at right angles to the portions of the rod engaged and adjustably mounted, so as to accommodate various sizes of films and sensitized paper. Each of the masking strips M is provided with a transverse rib ll from which the ear-like extensions 15 extend. The rod 52 is seated in the bight or groove opposite the rib Tl. In order to adjust the masking strips 14, it is merely necessary to grasp the ears 15 to move the masking strips i=3 along the rod 52, so as to secure the proper size. The ears '15 are looped, so as to grip the rod 52, as clearly shown in Fig. 6.

When inserting the film, the film may be placed underneath the masking strips and the sensitized paper placed in position after the masking strips and the film have been properly positioned. After the film and the sensitized paper have been positioned, a lid-like pressure plate '35, pivotally mounted at 82, jointed at 8 and lined with a suitable cushioning pad of suitable material such as sponge rubber, is then pressed down over the film and the sensitized paper into the position shown in Fig. 2, at which time the switch 30 may be closed to energize the light 28 for a period sufiiciently long to properly expose or print the picture.

The hinge 82 is of the piano type hinge structure, that is, it is continuous along the entire end of the pressure plate 89 and is spot welded or otherwise secured to the cover it. and the pressure plate 85. Likewise, the hinge 84 is continuous throughout the entire length. The hinge in! is preferably welded in position when the plate portions Sea and S-flb are held in a suitable jig with the adjacent edges abutting, so that whenever the knob 88 is used to actuate the cover into the down position shown in Fig. 2, the parts 89a and 8% are coplanar, thereby eliminating the use of a spring extending along the top or contacting the separate sections of the plate 8*). The pressure plate 53 is held in closed position by a suitable spring latch 99 engaging a pawl 82 suitably biased by a spring not shown and pivotally mounted to the bracket 84, attached to the forward portion of the cover l2. The pawl S2 is released by depressing the handle portion 96.

When printing continuous length film, such as films used in Candid cameras and the like, it is very desirable to support the film. A pair of reel members Hi0, one on either side of the glass 50, is adapted when in operative position to sup port the ends of the continuous length film [02. Each reel member I60 consists of a horizontal portion 30a mounted upon a vertical leg portion 10b, having its lower end deflected at I000 adapted when in operative position to rest upon an ear I84 integral with the top of the lower box portion H}, the leg I001) extending through a suitable aperture in the top of the cover l2. The reel member I00 includes a leg 100d seated in a suitable aperture in the top of the cover in proper spaced relation from the aperture seating the leg I062). The aperture receiving the leg IOUd is preferably provided with a grommet IUG snugly fitting the leg IODd.

Whenever the reel assembly is not required, the leg Hind may be removed from the grommet I08 and the assembly rotated about the leg 1001) through an angle of when the reel assembly may be dropped into inoperative position as shown in Fig. 5, the leg lDUd then being positioned in juxtaposed relation with respect to the end of the cover 12.

If it should be necessary to change the lights, or for any other reason open the printing box, the cover l2 may be removed by unscrewing a pair of screws 108, one on either side of the box assembly. This permits the removal of the cover and the box carried thereby, in which event the bulbs 16 and 28 are accessible or removable. The cover may be put into position again by placing on top of the box 10. The downward movement of the cover 12 is limited by a pair of angle irons H0, spot welded to the ends of the cover l2, providing stops.

Although the preferred modification of the device has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, in the novel parts, combination of parts and mode of operation, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a contact printing box having a window overlying a printing light, a negative masking assembly including a U-shaped supporting rod having its legs straddling the window, a masking strip pivotally mounted on one of the legs, a pair of adjustably mounted masking strips normally disposed to each other and adjustably mounted upon said supporting rod, one of the adjustable strips being slidably mounted upon the leg opposite the pivotally mounted masking strip, the other adjustable strip being slidably mounted upon the portion of the rod connecting the legs thereof, each of said adjustable strips being provided with a hand engaging ear extending beyond the U-shaped member to facilitate manipulation thereof.

2. The combination of a reel assembly with a contact printing box, said contact printing box including a box-like portion having a pair of inwardly directed ears and a cover for the boxlike portion, said cover and box-like portion cooperating to enclose a red light and a printing light, said cover having a translucent area forming a surface for supporting the film and the sensitized paper during the printing operation, said reel assembly including a pair of members disposed upon opposite sides of the printing surface, each of said members including a film supporting portion extending parallel to the plane of the printing surface and supported upon a pair of legs extending through suitable apertures in the cover, one of said legs being aligned with and supported upon the inwardly projecting cars so as to hold the reel members in proper position with respect to the printing surface to support the ends of the continuous length film having a portion in printing position.

3. The combination of a reel assembly with a contact printing box, said contact printing box including a box-like portion having a pair of inwardly directed ears and a cover for the boxlike portion, said cover and box-like portion cooperating to enclose a red light and a printing light, said cover having a translucent area forming a surface for supporting the film and the sensitized paper during the printing operation, said reel assembly including a pair of U-shaped members having the legs extending in a direction normal to the printing surface, one of the legs being provided with a perpendicular projection extending over the inwardly directed ear and supported thereon, the other leg being shorter, said reel assembly when in inoperative position being rotated through an angle of so as to permit the projection to clear the ear so as to hold the reel assembly contiguous to a portion of the box when in inoperative position.

PAUL F. JACKSON. 

